Peretz: Hizballah gaining points in Lebanon

Monday, August 28, 2006 |
by Staff Writer

Defense Minister Amir Peretz said yesterday that the inaction of the international community in Lebanon has caused Hizballah to enter the void and thus be seen as the savior, providing ordinary Lebanese with financial assistance to rebuild their lives, and garner much support in the eyes of the locals.

Peretz said that Hizballah is giving $12,000 cash to each family whose home was damaged in the war. Peretz said that he requested international figures to create an economic taskforce to rebuild Lebanon, and to block Hizballah and Iran from strengthening their position among the Lebanese population.

On the subject of Iran, Deputy Prime Minister Shimon Peres warned that Iran might transfer nuclear knowledge to terrorists around the world, and that that threat must be eliminated. Peres added that a nuclear Iran means the strengthening of terrorist organizations around the world and a blow to the free world’s ability to provide security to its citizens.

According to Peres “Iran is disregarding the legitimate international institutions, in foremost the UN Security Council, and is testing the position, authority, and destiny of these institutions. Iran is attempting to impose extremist religious hegemony everywhere in the world. The presence of nuclear weapons in the hands of the Iranian leadership is a danger to the entire world.”

Peres added that the IDF must provide an answer to a scenario where terror groups will hold more advanced weapons.

Want more news from Israel?Click Here to sign up for our FREE daily email updates